Thread tension regulators



June 3, 1958 v K. LEHNER 2,837,298

THREAD TENSION REGULATORS Filed Aug. 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Shet 1 FIG-l Iii I4 "I '8 .2 M1*"-"\= 1 E5 W 1 FIG. 2 1 1 FIG.3 6 {4' \io w x/ll/yj Jwgl ATT' Y s 2,837,298 THREAD rENsroN REGULATORS Karl Lehner, Miltenherg am Main, Germany, assignor to 'Vereinigte Glanzstoflf-Fabrike'n A. G.','--Wuppertal-Elberfeld, German y l pnafittaugua 16, 1956, Serial No. 604,490 Claims priority, application Germany August 20, 1955 12 Claims. .(Cl. 24z-.-153

There are known thread tension regulators in which the thread is led in frictional contactover a zig-zag course between two rows of lattic bars, which are arranged such that the thread tension is altered either at theentry side or the exit side.j The two rows of bars are shifted relative to each other. In this way an equalization of tension'of thread flowing through the thread tension regulators is attempted. These devices, however, do not always'meet the demands for delicacy of regulation and .of true uniformity in the tension of the thread exiting i from; the device. tension regulators, when the rows of lattice bars are shifted, relatively large masses are moved-thereby necessitating relativelyla'rge accelerating forces. inertia of theselarge masses'lead to a lagging in correction of thread tension and hence 'an uneven regulation of thethread tension; These devices also'have high-tensionjpeaks. on the exit side which'inthe case of fine threads"can"lead. to capillary thread breaking or to general breaking ofthe thread.

Attempts have been made to employ thread tension regulators in which a fixed lattice work is used as the entry brake and a movable lattice arrangement is used as the after .or balancing brake; But even' with this device it' was impossible to achieve adequate, constant equalization ofthe'th'read tension. Furthermore, such a mechanism may be used only with higher thread tensions because there must always'be a certain established thread tension before the balancing regulation will function. about an uneven, widely varying, running tension after the tension regulator.

Other prior thread tension regulators employ two rows of fixed lattices, the verticalp planes through the two rows diverging from one another in a V form. On

the exit side of this lattice brake the movable thread guide was mountedunder springtension. When the ten 'In these particular thread,

The

It was further found that this'devicebrought' 2,837,298 i a r v Jaaet- 2 t said intermediate thread guides being shiftable against Y the spring load from the path of thread travel providing the highest frictional resistance through said gate brakes toward a path providing lower frictional resistance. The lattice brakes may have parallel, round bars diverging alternately into two planes, the planes forming a V.

These lattice brakes are mounted in staggered, opposing 1 relation with the open end of the V's opposing each other, i the brakes being mounted at diiferent vertical levels.

Between the two lattice brakes there are mounted springloaded thread guides which, according to the required increase or, decrease of thread tension, conduct the thread symmetrically into or out of the two lattice brakes.

The mechanism of this invention employs as the only movable part during the threading operation springloaded, thread guides which may have a relatively small massthus requiring only inconsequential accelerating or retarding forces in movement thereof. The design of the thread tension regulators of my invention facilitates relatively easy adaptation of the device in twining and spooling machines. a a

By means of the mechanism of the invention it is, within a certain thread tension range, possible to achieve a perfectbalance of the thread tension, independent of the tension at the entry side of the regulator. purpose, the spring load acting on the thread guides must be so selected that the displacement of the thread within the lattice brakes corresponds to an alteration of tension that provides the amount lacking up to the required ten sion at the thread em't. It is possible with the mechanism to achieve a modified exit tension while the com I plete balance is maintained.

Embodiments of the invention heretofore briefly de scribed are shown in the drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bracket 28 taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front plan view of another embodiment of my invention; and

sion of the thread increases the thread guidefm'oves the" thread sideways out of the lattice arrangement the thread, it does not control the tension of the thread at the exit side of the lattice brake to provide a'sub E stantially unvarying tension of constant value because the spring tension on the movable thread guide detersaid devices.

mines the amount oftension in' the thread exiting from Itis, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for regulation of thread tension at a constant desired value.

A further object is to provide apparatus for regulation of thread tension providing delicate regulation and true uniformity in thread tension.

Fig. 5 is a front, partial plan view of a thread tension regulator illustrating a third embodiment of my invention. i

Referring now to the drawings, in particular Figs. l

and 2, thelpreferred embodiment of my invention com--- prises a U-shaped base member 10 on which is mounted,

in opposed symmetric relation upper and lower (entry and exit) lattice brakes 12. The upper lattice brake 12 comprises two vertical rows of round lattice bars. 14-: and 14 diverging alternately in two diverging plane sjfl the planes crossing'andfthereby forming a V. The lattice bars 16 and 16 of the lower brake member 12 arejsimi- 5 larly arranged. The two lattice brakes are arranged aty;

diiferent levels in mirror image relationship with the open ends of the VS opposing each other. Fixed threadsguides 18 are mounted on the thread entry side been: lattice brake and the thread exit side of the other lattice brake and are in substantial alignment with the point of intersection of the aforesaid planes. lntermediatetthe lattice brakes 1 2,and preferably symmetrical therewith- "is 'pivotaHymount'ed double threadguide 20 having For this 3 thread guide'loops 22. The thread guide is mounted on-a-shaft 24'pivotally mounted in the base member 10. A coil spring 26 is fixed to said shaft 24 at one end-the other end extending through bracket 28 via the hole 30 and-is held therein by set screw 325 Refe'rringnow to Fig. 4, the thread tension regulating device illust-ratedtherein hasbase member 10, upper lattice brake-12 with bars 14 and 14, lower lattice brake 12- with members 16 and 16', and fixedthre-ad guides 18, all similar to the correspondingly numbered parts illustrated-in Figs. 1 and 2. Instead of a single intermediate thread guide 20 the embodiment of Fig. 4 employs two pivotally mounted, spring-loaded thread guides 40' mounted to pivot in symmetrical relation with respect to the upper and lower lattice brakes. Each pivotally mounted thread guide 40 comprises thread guide loop 42 at one end; the other end fixedly connected to pivotally mounted shaft 44; Coilsprings 46 are connected at one end to said pivotally mounted shafts 44 with the other end thereof held in holes 50 through the sides of the base member 10 by set screws 48.

The intermediate portion of the thread guide device illustrated in Fig. 5 is still another embodiment of my invention. The upper and lower lattice brakes are similar to'those illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The intermediate, shiftable guide members 60, having springs 62 and guide loops 64 therein, are mounted on the base member by bending over the end thereof which extends through the holes 68 in the base member 10.

The operation of the tension regulator illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is as follows:

Assuming the delivery source to be on the upper side, the thread T passes through fixed thread guide 13 and follows a zig-zag course over the bars 14 and 14 of the lattice brake 12 in such a manner that the thread is m'ovable laterally out of the open end of the V. The thread then passes through loops 22 in pivotally mounted thread guide 20 and thence through lower lattice brake 12 and fixed guide 18 in a manner similar to that described with regard to'the upper lattice brake. A vertical path through the lattice brakes provides the greatest amount of frictional resistance. The spring 26 urges the thread guide loops 22 of the thread guide member 20 to this position. As the tension of the thread increases, thread guide member 20 is urged against the spring-load pivotally counterclockwise, thereby urging the threads out of the lattice brakes 12 to positions of lower frictional resistance, the lowest value being that provided by drawing an imaginary straight line between the outer fixed thread guides 1 8.

'In order that the thread isable to assume this latter path the point of pivot (the shaft 24) of the thread guide means 20' is' mounted along this imaginary straight line. If more or less spring tension is needed to provide satisfactory regulation, the spring 26*may be adjusted by moving its end through the hole 30 in the desired direction.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the individual, pivotally mounted thread guides 40 are symmetrically arranged to pivot toward an imaginary straight line between the fixed thread guides 18 against the load of the springs 46. In this embodiment each spring is individually adjustable to increase or decrease tension as desired. Preferably, the spring tensions should be equal for corresponding, angular positions of the guides. In the embodiment of Fig. 5 the thread guides are shiftable primarily linearly against the load of springs 42 from the path of thread travel providing highest frictional resistance through the lattice brakes toward an imaginary straight line between the fixed guides 18;

To alter the setting of the thread tension on the exit side, the V-sh-aped arrangement of the rows of lattice "bars of the two lattice brakes 12 may be shifted manually in their angular relation to each other. In this manner it is possible to heighten or flatten the zig-zag course of the thread within the lattice brakes. The initial tension of the loaded spring of the double thread guides must then be adjusted to this changed frictional resistance.

"Instead of altering theV-shaped position of the two rows of lattice bars in each lattice brake, one can also shift the brakes toward one another. These adjustments, however, are made only occasionally and usually while the threading operation is halted. For practical purposes, the lattice brake may be considered to be fixed during the actual threading operations.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A thread tension'regulator which comprises: opposing lattice brakes, each providing decreasing frictional resistance to thread travel therethrough as the thread path in each respective brake is shiftedtoward the 0p posing lattice brake; and, intermediate said lattice brakes in the path of thread travel, bias-loaded thread guides shiftably mounted between said lattice brakes, said in-v termediate thread guides being shiftable'against the bias load from the path of thread travel providing the highest frictional resistance through the said brakes toward a path providing lower frictional resistance.

2; A thread tension regulator which comprises: a pair of staggered, opposing lattice brakes, each providing'de-y creasing frictional resistance to thread travel therethrough as the thread path ineach respective brake is shifted toward the opposing lattice brake, mounted at different levels; and a pair of intermediate, spring-loaded threaded" guides, one for eachlattice brake, shi'ftably mounted between said lattice brakes, said intermediate thread guides being shiftable against the spring load from the path of thread travel providing the highest frictional resistance through said lattice brakes toward a path providing lower frictional resistance.

3. A thread tension regulator which comprises a pair of staggered,opposing lattice brakes, each providing dc creasing frictional resistance t'othread travel therethrough as the thread path in each respective brake is shifted toward the opposing lattice bra-kc, mounted at different levels; and a pair of intermediate, spring-loaded thread guides, one for each said brake, pivotably mounted between said lattice brakes, said intermediate thread guides being shiftable symmetrically in an a-rcuate path: against th spring load from the path of thread travel providing the highest frictional resistance. through said' lattice I rakes toward a path providing lower frictional resistance.

. 4. A thread tension regulator which comprises: a pair of'staggered, opposing lattice brakes, each providing de-' creasing frictional resistance to thread travel there-through as the thread pathin each respective brake is shifted toward the opposing lattice brake, mounted at different levels; and a pair of intermediate thread guides on opposite ends of a substantially rigid member pivotally mount ed symmetrically between said lattice brakes; and bias means operatively connected to said rigid member to provide a bias load to urge movement of said intermediate thread guide means toward the path of thread travel of highest frictional resistance in each of said lattice brakes.

5. A thread tension regulator which comprises: a pair of lattice brakes, each lattice brake comprising round bars diverging alternately into two planes, the planes forming a V; the lattice brakes being arranged at different levels with the open ends of the Vs opposing each other; fixed outer thread guide means mounted on th entrance side of one lattice brake and on the exit side of the other lattice brake; and a pair of intermediate, bias loaded thread guides, one for each lattice brake, shiftably mounted between said lattice brakes, said intermediate thread guides being shiftable against the bias load from the path of thread travel providing the highest frictional resistance through said lattice brakes toward an imaginary straight line between said outer thread guide means, respectively.

6. A thread tension regulator which comprises: a pair of lattice brakes, each lattice brake comprising parallel round bars diverging alternately into two planes, the planes forming a V; the lattice brakes being arranged at difierent levels with the open ends of the Vs opposing each other; fixed outer thread guide means mounted on the entrance side of one lattice brake and on the exit side of the other lattice brake, each thread guide being substantially in alignment with the point of intersection of said diverging planes of the respective lattice brake; and a pair of intermediate, spring-loaded thread guides, one for each lattice brake, pivotably mounted between the said brakes, said intermediate thread guides being shiftable in symmetrical arcuate paths against the spring load from the path of thread travel providing the highest frictional resistance through said lattice brakes toward an imaginary straight line between said outer thread guide means, respectively.

7. A thread tension regulator which comprises: a pair of lattice brakes, each lattice brake comprising parallel, round bars diverging alternately into two planes, the planes forming a V; the lattice brakes being arranged at different levels with the open ends of the V5 opposing each other; fixed outer thread guide means mounted on the entrance side of one lattice brake and on the exit side of the other lattice brake, each thread guide being substantially in alignment with the point of intersection of said diverging planes of the respective lattice brake; a pair of intermedaite thread guides on opposite ends of a substantially rigid member pivotally mounted between and in symmetric relation with said lattice brakes; and bias means operatively connected to said substantially rigid member and adapted to provide a bias load to urge pivotal movement of said intermediate thread guides toward the path of thread travel of highest frictional resistance in each of the respective lattice brakes.

8. A thread tension regulator which comprises: a pair of lattice brakes, each lattice brake comprising parallel, round bars diverging alternately into two planes, the planes forming a V; the lattice brakes being arranged at difierent levels with the open 'ends of the Vs opposing each other; fixed outer thread guide means mounted on the entrance side of one lattice brake and on the exit side of the other lattice brake, each thread guide being substantially in alignment with the point of intersection of said diverging planes of the respective lattice brake; a substantially rigid bar, having thread guide loops on opposite ends, pivotally mounted at the center of the bar, the point of pivot being approximately equidistant between said lattice brakes and substantially along an imaginary line between said fixed thread guides; and a coil spring operatively connected to said rigid bar.

9. A thread tension regulator which comprises: a pair of lattice brakes, each lattice brake comprising round bars diverging alternately into two diverging planes, the

planes thereby forming a V; the lattice brakes being arranged at different levels with the open ends of the Vs opposing each other; fixed outer thread guide means mounted on the entrance side of one lattice brake and on the exit sides of the other lattice brake, each thread guide being substantially in alignment with the point of intersection of the diverging planes of the respective lattice brake; a linear substantially rigid bar, having thread guide loops on opposite ends, pivotally mounted at the center of the bar approximately equidistantly between said lattice brakes with the point of pivot on substantially an imaginary line drawn between said fixed thread guide means; and a coil spring operatively connected to said rigid bar, said coil spring being adjustably mounted.

10. A thread tension regulator which comprises: opposing thread braking devices having a plurality of paths of thread travel providing different resistances to thread movement; and bias-loaded thread guides shiftably mounted in the path of thread travel intermediate said braking devices, said thread guides being shiftable against the bias load from the paths of thread travel of higher resistance to those of lower resistance.

11. A thread tension regulator which comprises: a pair of similar, opposing thread braking devices, each having a plurality of paths of thread travel providing different resistances to thread movement progressing from highest resistance to lowest resistance as the successive paths move toward the opposing thread braking device; and bias-loaded thread guides shiftably mounted in the path of thread travel intermediate said braking devices, said thread guides being shittable symmetrically against the bias load from the paths of thread travel of higher resistance to those of lower resistance.

12. A thread tension regulator which comprises: a

1 pair of similar, opposing thread braking devices, each having a plurality of paths of thread travel providing diflerent resistances to thread movement progressing from highest resistance to lowest resistance as the successive paths move toward the opposing thread braking device; a pair of intermediate thread guides on opposite ends of a substantially rigid member pivotally mounted between and in symmetric relation with said braking devices; and spring means operatively connected to said substantially rigid member and adapted to provide a spring load to urge pivotal movement of said intermediate thread guides toward the path of thread travel of highest resistance in each of the respective thread braking devices.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

